Foot-power motor



(-No Model.)

J. M. OUR'I'IOE. FOOT POWER MOTOR.

Patented Oct. 9, 1 888.

Nl-TED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

JESSE M. OURTICE, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

FOOT-POWER MOTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 390,653, dated @ctoloer 9, 1888.

Application filed June 27, 1887. Renewed July 10, 1888. Serial No. 279,555. (No model.)

same.

My invention relates to an improvement in foot-power motors, and more particularly to a type in which a treadle movement is utilized and the vibratory motion thus obtained is converted into rotative reciprocatory motion as applied to a vertical shaft.

The object of my present invention is to produce a simple efficient motor of the class mentioned that will be available to operate churns and give their vertical dashers an alternate direct and reverse movement in a manner to avoid shock or the dead-points of the cranks, and thus insure a smooth, regular, continuous movement of the mechanism.

A further object of my invention is to construct a treadle or foot-power motor so that it will also combine a hand-crank movement by which the treadle motion may be re-enforced, the joint action of the handcrank and foot treadles lightening the labor and increasing the efficiency of the motor when additional force is required.

A further object is to afford a cheap foot and hand power motor that may be used together or alternately, and that from'the simplicity of construction may be produced at a low initial cost.

With these objects in view my invention consists in certain features of construction and combination of parts that will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claim.

Referring to the drawings making a part of this specification, Figure l is a side elevation of the motor, showing the side on which the crank-handle is preferably located. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the opposite side of the motor, on which the pitman-connectionof the treadles is shown. Fig. 3 shows a rear elevation of the device.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the standard, taken on the line :0 m, Fig. 1.

The vertical metallic standard A is preferacessive weight.

Fig. 4;.is a plan View of the motor.

bly made having a flat plate, 15, (see Fig. 5,) as a center, which is stiffened by the integral longitudinal ribs 88, that form the edges of the standard. This plan of construction affords a stable upright standard without ex- The standard A is mounted upon a base-plate, A and has its edges tapered slightly. At 0 there is an offset formed, (see Fig. 3,) above which the standard is extended, as shown, and at A it is bent at about a right angle to the vertical portion. The horizontal integral portion of the standard is again bent laterally to produce a short offset extension, n, that lies in the same vertical plane with the lower vertical portion of the standard A. The offset part of the standard A is provided to allow the balance-wheel B to be mounted on its short shaft g in a manner to rotate on the standard and keep the center of gravity of this wheel in line with the center of the base-plate A Upon the forward end, n, of the horizontal limb of vertical standard A two forked extensions, h h, are formed. These crotched ends embrace the uprightspindle O,lying in grooves cut in the body of the spindle at proper points to receive the forks of the standard.

Shaft g, which is rigidly secured into or is integrally formed to project from the center of the wheel B, is supported in a proper box provided at thejunction of the horizontal and vertical portions of the standard A,so that the wheel and shaft may freely rotate without any side play or wabbling. To effect this, a collar or shoulder, r, is produced on the shaft g,(see Fig. 3,) that bears against the adjacent surface of the standard, while the body of the shaft is extended beyond the opposite or outside face of the standard A to receive the crank (1.

Upon one of the arms of the wheel B (see Figs. 1, 3, and 4) a crank-handle, F, is secured to a projecting stud, F, the latter also affording a revoluble support to the metallic strapplate I). (See Figs. 1 and 4..) The metal strapplate b has a laterally-curved end, I), which is perforated or slotted to receive the leather strap a, that has its opposite end placed in contact with the cylindrical portion of the upright spindle 0, around which it is bent and to which it is secured between the forks h h of the end a.

The leather strap a is adjustably secured to the metal strap plate I) by first passing it through the slot made in its end b, and, after the strap a is stretched until one of a series of perforations, 1), made in it comes opposite a projecting nipple made on the strap-plate b, the nipple is made to enter the hole in a manner similar to the locking-tang of an ordinary buckle to hold the parts connected.

A strap-plate, c, is loosely mounted upon the wrist-pin of the crank (Z and extends forward to be attached to the leather strap a, (see Figs. 2 and 4,) which latter is folded partly around the spindle G just above the strap a, that connects the opposite strap-plate, b.

The points of attachment of the strap-plates 0b to the crank-pins d and F on opposite sides of the wheel B must be on the same diametrical line, as must also be the location of the pins of the cranks, so that the center of the wheel and the centers of the cranks will lie in the same plane. This arrangement will cause the leather strap a to be wound nearly half a revolution about the spindle C, while the other strap, a, has been drawn to the rear and is farther removed from contact with the cylindrical spindle C.

At a point a proper distance above the baseplate A of the standard A two bosses, 13, are integrally formed upon the sides of the standard. These bosses are perforated to receive and afford support to the shaft i, which is affixed rigidly to the mated pedals D D',that lie in the same plane, and are thus supported to rock together with their supporting-shaft z in the bosses i, as indicated in Fig. 3. At a point, It, the pitman-rod E is pivoted to the pedal D, that is placed upon the proper side of the motor to allow the pitman to be loosely attached by its upper extremity to the projecting wristpin of the crank d. This will establish a connection between the pedals and the other mechanism of the motor,- and it is manifest that a rocking movement of the pedals D D by the feet of an operator will cause the spindle G to be partially revolved in one direction, and then reversed and moved correspondingly in an opposite direction.

When it is desirable, the operator can use one hand to aid the pedal movement, and by a revolution of the crank F ease the labor performed by the feet; or, if preferred, the operation may be alternated, and the crank handle F be used a portion of the time when an operator desires to stand upright, the treadles being resumed as a means for actuating the spindle 0 when a sitting posture is preferred to afford rest by a change of position.

I have shown the pedals as connected to one crank by a pitman, E. In some cases I may prefer to use two pitmen, one on each side of the motor. I do not therefore wish to limit myself to the use of one pitman-rod to attach the pedals to the cranks cl, it being apparent that the crank-pin'F may be similarly connected to the pedal D, so that both pedals may be attached. I prefer to use but one pitman, as it answers every purpose in the ordinary use of the motor.

Other slight changes might be made in the constructive features of this device without a departure from the spirit or exceeding the scope of my invention. Hence I do not wish to limit myself to the exact forms shown; but,

Having fully describedmy invei1tion,\vl1at I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination, with a supporting-standard havingalaterally-projecting arm at its top, the latter provided at its outer end with a forked bearing, the said standard and arm each having an offset portion, as shown, and a balance-wheel journaled on said offset portion and having cranks on opposite sides, of strapplates mounted on thecranks, a rotary spindle journaled in the forked bearing inthe arm, flexible connections secured to the spindle and passing around the same in opposite directions and secured to the stra-p-plates,and means connected to the cranks foroperating the balancewheel, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JESSE M. GURTICE.

Vitnesses:

GEORGE F. DOWNING, S. G. NOTTINGHAM. 

